Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-26-118 (2026)

Proving inadequacy of consent

✓ current as of May 2026
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In a health care liability action, the plaintiff shall prove by evidence as required by § 29-26-115(b) that the defendant did not supply appropriate information to the patient in obtaining informed consent (to the procedure out of which plaintiff's claim allegedly arose) in accordance with the recognized standard of acceptable professional practice in the profession and in the specialty, if any, that the defendant practices in the community in which the defendant practices and in similar communities.

Acts 1975, ch. 299, § 17; 1976, ch. 759, § 18; T.C.A., § 23-3417; Acts 2012 , ch. 798, § 10.


Notes of Decisions
Cited in 40 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1987–2025 · leading case: Cardwell v. Bechtol, 724 S.W.2d 739 (Tenn. 1987).
Cardwell v. Bechtol, 724 S.W.2d 739 (Tenn. 1987). · cites it 10× “The burden of proof on the issue of standard of care is controlled by T.C.A. § 29-26-118 of the Medical Malpractice Act.”
Bryant v. HCA Health Servs. of No. Tennessee, Inc., 15 S.W.3d 804 (Tenn. 2000). · cites it 15× “We hold that Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-26-118 does not require a hospital to obtain the informed consent of a patient.”
Blanchard v. Kellum, 975 S.W.2d 522 (Tenn. 1998). · cites it 8× “; Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-26-118. These determinations require expert testimony and are outside the common knowledge of a lay witness.”
Ike J. White III v. David a. Beeks, M.d, 469 S.W.3d 517 (Tenn. 2015). · cites it 4× “Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-26-118 (2000 & Supp.”
Hawk v. Chattanooga Orthopaedic Grp., P.C., 45 S.W.3d 24 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 11× “The pertinent statute is T.C.A. § 29-26-118: In a malpractice action, the plaintiff shall prove by evidence as required by § 29-26-115(b) that the defendant did not supply appropriate information to the patient in obtaining his informed consent (to the procedure out of which…”
Miller Ex Rel. Miller v. Dacus, 231 S.W.3d 903 (Tenn. 2007). · cites it 8× “Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-26-118. The “appropriate information” that must be disclosed depends on the “usual and customary advice given to patients to procure consent in similar situations.”
Shadrick v. Coker, 963 S.W.2d 726 (Tenn. 1998). · cites it 2× “The burden of proof on the standard of care element is controlled by Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-26-118, which requires that in a lack of informed consent action the plaintiff prove, by expert testimony, "that the defendant did not supply appropriate information to the patient in…”
Church v. Perales, 39 S.W.3d 149 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 2× “See Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-26-118 (1980). Accordingly, patients seeking damages for lack of informed consent must prove that the physician’s conduct fell below the applicable standard of care and that reasonably prudent persons in the patient’s position would not have consented to…”
Harris v. Buckspan, 984 S.W.2d 944 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 6× “; Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-26-118. These determinations require expert testimony and are outside the common knowledge of a lay witness.”
Ashe v. Radiation Oncology Assocs., 9 S.W.3d 119 (Tenn. 1999). · cites it 3× “ANALYSIS The burden of proof on the standard of care element in medical malpractice informed consent cases is controlled by Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-26-118. Pursuant to § 29-26-118, a plaintiff must prove by expert testimony that the defendant did not supply appropriate information…”
Pamela Moses v. Jayanta K. Dirghangi, MD, 430 S.W.3d 371 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 2× “Specifically, informed consent actions are governed by Tennessee Code Annotated Section 29-26-118, which provides: In a health care liability action, the plaintiff shall prove by evidence as required by § 29-26-115(b) that the defendant did not supply appropriate information to…”
Mitchell v. Kayem, 54 S.W.3d 775 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 4× “…if any, that the defendant practices in the community in which the defendant practices and in similar communities. Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-26-118 (2000).”
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